Michael Young

Untitled

Oil on Canvasboard

10 x 8 x 1cm, Framed to 11.5 x 9.5 x 1"

$350

Online Only

Profile of a woman with a blue face with a black and white striped towel in her hair. The gold earring provides warmth and juxtaposes with the otherwise cool painting.

Artist's Statement:

Portraits that have bold pops of color in an otherwise monochromatic setting, my paintings signify the apathy of youth. The figures in my paintings embody the conflict between how we feel deeply versus how we act as if we don’t feel a thing. This façade is often glamorized as being “too cool to care”. This “cool” that is carefree and seductive, is desperately sought after. It has become the new face of beauty in our time, the stoic and/or femme fatale trope. Focusing on beauty that has been given a hard edge, self-centered with a notion of effortlessness, my work comments on the attitude of this generation. A delicate application of sleek oil paint represents the high gloss filter craved by youth culture. My art embodies the rebellion, beauty, and mystery of urban youth.

Inspired by diverse landscapes and the dynamic nature of our modern world, my art serves as a meditative response to the tumultuous environment around us. Each piece is an experiment in balancing color and form, aiming to offer a quiet sanctuary and a moment of introspective calm.

Having initially studied sculpture during my MFA at Pratt Institute, where I crafted large-scale works, I turned to painting as a means to overcome a period of creative block. This shift allowed me to explore the subtleties of scale and impact, resulting in intentionally small works that challenge the viewer's perception of significance and presence.

Through my art, I seek to translate the intricate beauty of nature and human experience into visual expressions that inspire tranquility and introspection, while continually exploring the nuanced relationships between color and composition.